68 | NOVEMBER 30 • 2023
J
N
A
lex Grossman
hasn’t forgotten
about growing up
in Michigan. That can be
observed through people,
places and messages about
living expressed through his
new film, That’s Funny.
As writer, director and
actor in That’s Funny,
Grossman made use of the
production and performance
talents of friends kept from
his years living in Flint and
came to the state to film
different scenes, such as
those in Charlevoix.
To introduce his
production as a theatrical
film, Grossman is returning
to theaters around the state
with relevant presentations
about cinema and the
essence of his film content.
For a time, he leaves behind
his responsibilities as a
commercial director and
standup comic.
Although the film can
be seen through digital
platforms on television now,
it will have its red-carpet
opening Thursday, Dec. 7, at
the Capitol Theatre in Flint.
Other former Flint residents
will join Grossman there, and
he will travel with the movie
for presentations the week
after that.
“I love the film’s idea that
enjoying the journey is as
much or more important
than the destination,”
Grossman said. “That’s a
lesson I’m constantly trying
to teach myself. All the
accolades or finish lines
in the world don’t mean
anything if you’re not
enjoying the moments it
takes to get there.
“I was turning 50, and
it was the pandemic. Up
until that moment in my
life, everything had been
about awards or milestones.
Like I had to get this job or
this award in advertising.
I wanted to win an award
or access a big career as a
screenwriter.
“I started to think I was
going the wrong way. I need
to focus more on enjoying
what I was doing than any
accolade. I was teaching
myself a lesson in writing
this, a lesson to myself.”
Grossman, who had his
bar mitzvah at Temple Beth
El in Flint and went to the
University of Michigan as
an English major thinking
he would become a lawyer
like his dad, decided that
career wasn’t for him after
graduation impelled him to
move to New York. He got a
job in advertising and entered
commercial directing.
“This is a very personal
film that hopefully will make
audiences laugh and learn as
much as I did about the idea
ARTS&LIFE
FILM
Filmmaker Alex Grossman will premier his new movie That’s Funny in Flint.
Enjoying the Journey
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER